Candidates 2012: Sandy Pella has support of incumbents in run for Fillmore council

Sandy Pella is new to Fillmore politics, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her campaign for City Council.

Pella is supported by both of the incumbents running for re-election, Gayle Washburn and Jamie Brooks. Her name appears on campaign signs with theirs, and she's promising continuity on the council if she's elected.

Pella, 65, is a longtime teacher and school administrator who now works at PathPoint, a nonprofit that works with adults with development disabilities. She is one of seven candidates for three open seats in the Nov. 6 City Council election.

Pella said she first became interested in city politics because she lives at the El Dorado Estates mobile home park, a property the owner has been trying for years to subdivide into condominiums. Most residents oppose the plan. The council blocked the subdivision, but the owner filed a lawsuit that's still in court.

Pella helped start a homeowner's association at El Dorado and led the campaign against a 2009 ballot measure that would have allowed the conversion of the property. It lost by a wide margin.

"There were people who asked me to run a couple years ago, and I thought the time wasn't right," she said. "With the downturn in the economy and the deficit in the city — it's solvent now, but it's in a very precarious situation — I decided that maybe it's time to apply some of the experience I've had over these years and help out."

If she's elected, Pella will no longer be able to participate in discussions or votes on the issue nearest to her heart. Because she lives in the El Dorado, she'd have to recuse herself whenever an item on the park goes before the council.

"I would recuse myself because it would be a conflict of interest for me to participate," she said. "I've been coming to meetings for years and following the City Council, though, so I'm fairly knowledgeable about all of the other issues as well."

Pella said her top concern if she's elected will be fixing the city's finances. She agrees with the route the council has taken so far, which has included steep budget cuts, and she said she also thinks the city will have to find some way to raise more tax revenue.

"I really respect what this council has done," she said. "They have had a really though road in the last couple of years. They've had to make some really severe cuts, and they were subject to a lot of criticism, and I think it was unjust."

Sandra A. Pella

Age: 65

Occupation: Direct Support Professional, working as an instructor to adults with developmental disabilities

Why are you running?

As a citizen and advocate for the survival of Fillmore as a city, I have chosen to run for a seat on the City Council. The downturn in the economy has adversely affected business growth, revenues and the confidence of citizens with regard to the viability of the community as whole. With over 40 years of experience in the areas of sales, business operations, administration and education, I believe that I possess the qualifications to assist the city in recovering from these difficult times. I desire to generate an increased awareness for the unique qualities of Fillmore to the tourism and filming industries. I am committed to a balanced budget, and to evaluating every avenue for raising revenues and reducing expenditures. I desire to inform the public on issues, and to stimulate interest in the business of the city by means of providing a quarterly newsletter posted on the city website which will outline activities of the City Council. I support encouraging fresh ideas and suggestions from the citizens of Fillmore, and in promoting participation in volunteerism where individuals can contribute their skills and talents to restore our community to its past prosperity. I have no affiliation with any special interest groups; my only motivation is to serve the citizens of Fillmore.